Thursday, May 5

Police drivers to pay for damage of patrol vehicles

Policemen patrol the streets in the northeast Nigerian city of Gombe following an invasion by Boko Haram Islamists on Saturday, February 14, 2015. Hundreds of Boko Haram gunmen invaded the city, firing heavy guns and throwing fliers calling on residents to boycott the forthcoming elections.

The militants later withdraw and the incursion prompted the state governor to impose an around-the-clock curfew on the city.

The police, on Thursday, said it would compel officers and men of the force, who damaged patrol vehicles through reckless driving to pay for the damage.

The Zone 2 police spokesman, CSP Adebowale Lawal, made this disclosure in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Lawal said that the directive was issued by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of the zone, comprising of Lagos and Ogun State Commands, Mr Bala Hassan.

He said that the warning became necessary in view of the rickety condition of such vehicles shortly after allocation for patrol duties.

The police spokesman said that henceforth, police officers and men would be sanctioned for willful and reckless damage to patrol vehicles under their care.

“All erring drivers and patrol team leaders who are found to have willfully and recklessly damaged vehicles will be sanctioned and made to pay for the damage to government property.

“If you destroy or damage any vehicle, you will be sanctioned and made to pay for it accordingly,” Lawal said.

According to him, most vehicles recently donated to the police by State Governments and corporate bodies, undergo comprehensive maintenance every six months to ensure their road worthiness.

He said that the AIG had therefore directed that drivers and team leaders would be held responsible for any breach of the safety and care of patrol vehicles.